Friction drive, ratchet-type wrench



Feb. 25,- 1958 K. WILSON I FRICTION DRIVE, RATCHET-TYPE WRENCH Filed June 22, 1956 R m WM pm W w 0 2 5 M L W 2-,824,476- 1 FRICTION DRIVE, i'zATCIIET-TYPE WRENCH Leonard K. Wilson, Aitkin, Minn.

Application June 22, 1956, Serial No. 593,276

2 Claims. (Cl. 81-58) This invention relates to tools, and more particularly to a wrench adapted to be employed with sockets or the like for tightening or loosening nuts, bolts, or similar elements.

A main object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved wrench device adapted to receive sockets or similar elements, said wrench device being simple in construction, being arranged so that the sockets or other elements to be employed therewith may be easily engaged therein, and being arranged so that a self-tightening action is provided responsive to the exertion of torque on the device.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved friction wrench device for use with sockets or similar elements, said wrench device being inexpensive to manufacture, being rugged in construction, and being easy to assemble.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and claims, and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a top view of an improved friction clutch wrench device constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the wrench device of Figure 1, showing the socket engaged therein, as in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Referring to the drawings, the improved friction clutch wrench device of the present invention is typically illustrated at 11, the device comprising a generally C-shaped resilient main body 12 of suitable resilient metal, such as steel or the like, the body 12 tapering in thickness from one end portion thereof to the other, and being formed at its thicker end portion with a pair of parallel, relatively large lugs 13, 13 between which is receivable the inner end portion of a flat handle bar 14. The handle bar 14 is pivotally connected to said lugs by a transverse pivot pin 15 engaged in transversely aligned apertures in the lugs 13, 13 and being retained in position by a retaining screw 16 threadedly engaged through the lower portion of the handle member 14, as viewed in Figure 3, and engageable in an annular retaining groove 17 formed in the intermediate portion of the pin 15.

The thinner end of the O-shaped body 12 is formed with a transverse, outwardly projecting rib 18 which is received in a pair of transversely aligned notches 19 formed in the lugs 13, 13 whereby said lugs are of generally hook-like shape, as is clearly shown in Figure 1. The handle bar 14 is formed at its inner end with a generally rectangular notch 20 which also receives the Un ed S at s Paten handle bar 14 being engag'eable against the lower surface of rib 18, as viewed in-Figure 3, whereby clockwise rotation of the handle bar '14 causes the C-shaped resilient body 12 to be contracted, and--tol-thus exert clamping force on a socket 22, or similar element, engaged inside the body 12.

The inner end of the handle bar 14 is formed above the notch 20, as viewed in Figure 3, with a cylindrical recess 23 in which is seated a coiled spring 24, said spring bearing against the end wall of the recess 23 and the adjacent portion of the body 12, biasing the handle bar 14 clockwise, as viewed in Figure 3, with respect to body 12. Thus, spring 24 acts to normally cause arm 21 to engage rib 18. However, the biasing force exerted by the spring 24 is comparatively light, and thus creates no difficulty in inserting a wrench socket 22, or similar member inside the body 12, or in removing said member from the body.

The bar 14 is provided at its outer end with the handle gripping portion 25. In using the device, with the socket element 22 engaged in the body 12, the handle 25 is employed to exert clockwise torque on body 12, as viewed in Figures 1 and 3, whereby arm 21 acts against rib 18 to contract the body 12 and to tighten the grip of the body on the socket element 22. Thus the socket element is securely held while clockwise torque is exerted on the handle bar 14. Obviously, to reverse the direction of torque, it is merely necessary to reverse the position of the socket element 22 with respect to body 12. Thus, to reverse the effective action of the wrench device, the socket 22 is removed from the body 12 and is reinserted with its head-receiving portion 26 facing upwardly instead of downwardly in Figure 2.

While a specific embodiment of an improved wrench device has been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understood that various modifications within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is intended that no limitations be placed on the invention except as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A wrench of the character described comprising a generally C-shaped resilient main body, a pair of parallel relatively large lugs on one end of said main body formed to receive the other end of the main body therebeneath, said parallel lugs being formed with respective notches facing said other end of the main body, a transverse rib on said other end of sufficient length to be received in said notches, an elongated handle member received between said lugs, a transverse pin pivotally connecting said handle member to said lugs, said handle member being formed at its end adjacent said main body with a fulcrum recess receiving said rib and cooperating with said rib to exert tightening force on said main body responsive to rotation of said handle member on said transverse pin, said end of the handle member being formed adjacent said first-named recess with an additional recess, and a coiled spring mounted in said additional recess and bearing between the additional recess and said main body, biasing the handle member toward engagement with said rib.

2. A wrench of the character described comprising a generally C-shaped resilient main body, a pair of spaced parallel relatively large lugs on one end of said main body, said lugs being generally hook-shaped and being formed to receive the other end of said main body therebeneath, a transverse rib on said other end of sufficient length to be received within and fitting within the hook-shaped lugs, an elongated handle member received between said lugs, a transverse pin pivotally connecting said handle member to said lugs, said pin being formed with an annular peripheral groove at its intermediate portion, a retaining screw threaded into said handle member and being receivable in said groove, said handle member being formed' at its end adjacent said main body wiht a fulcrum recess receiving the intermediate portion of 'said transverse rib and cooperating with said rib to exert tightening force on i said main body responsive to rotation of said handle member on said transverse pin, said end of the handle memher being formed adjacent said first-named recess with an additional recess, and a coiled spring mounted in said additional recess and bearing between the additional recess and said main body, biasing the handle member toward engagement with said transverse rib.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,101,022 Goodwin June 23, 1914 2,766,648 Iazwieck Oct. 16, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 3,064 Great Britain of 1877 41,259 Sweden Aug. 23, 1916 387,590 Great Britain Feb. 9, 1933 599,682 Germany July 7, 1934 

